Naraku in Love

Untitled Part 1

I shot my arrow into the head of a centipede demon and watched as it's body dispersed into a million specks of dust. I said a small prayer and headed back towards the village. The villagers were overjoyed when I returned back, they could see the light of my sacred arrow from the tree-line and a few spiritually gifted could sense that the demonic aura that had been plaguing them was now gone. 

A feast was thrown in my honor despite my objections, I didn't really mind though, after-all food was one of the few indulgences a priestess was allowed. Though my spiritual energy had always been immense and the duty of a priestess was my fate to bear, I had always known deep within me that I sinfully longed for more, a taste of normalcy. I longed for what other girls my age could have, but knew better than to indulge these fantasies. If I did so then I would not be able to fulfill my duties as a priestess and protect others like these villagers. My own village had been burned down some time ago when I was fifteen years of age, I had wondered the countryside since then, eradicating demons and preforming small blessings for temporary food and lodge, that was until I had stumbled across this village half a year ago. 

The villagers had been kind and took me in, I stayed with an older, retired priestess who was too elderly to do much of anything anymore. Her spiritual energy was still strong, but her body no longer allowed her to move much let alone slay demons. Everything was well for a time, but recently it seemed that an unusual number of demons had been targeting our village. I could sense a great demonic aura these days, but it remained far off, as if it was simply watching and waiting for something. Perhaps it was behind all the recent demon attacks, but if so why? Surely with an aura that strong there was no need to send in these weaker demons, even by the hundreds as they so often came, this aura was still much more powerful. Whatever it meant, I felt an ominous foreshadowing of what was to come. 

I was distracted from my thoughts as I felt a hand groping my bottom. Miroku. I pinched his hand discreetly, but hard enough to leave a mark. I could tell it hurt him immensely, but he was trying not to let it show. I felt satisfied by that. That pervert monk should know better than to try that with a priestess, especially when his girlfriend was sitting only a few feet away. This strange band of travelers had come through our village the day before in the midst of a demon attack. There had been demons by the hundreds and they helped to slay them. The young, strangely dressed priestess with them insisted that this was the work of a demon named Naraku and that the strong demonic aura was coming from him. They insisted on staying and trying to catch him. The half dog demon especially seemed eager to get ahold of Naraku, perhaps he bore him a personal grudge. 

Either way, I did not mind the help from these strange travelers, I could tell that their intentions were good and their auras (mostly) pure. I glanced over at the monk, he was young and handsome, but had a sour expression and was still rubbing his hand, I could already see that it was going to leave a bruise. I looked up at his girlfriend and gave her a small reassuring slime, she smiled back and then continued to give the monk a death glare. I chuckled to myself, they sure were a lively group. 

When I was finished eating, I thanked everyone for their kindness and retired to my room. Leaving the monk and his offers to accompany me behind. Right before I closed my door I swore I heard a loud smack, probably his girlfriend I thought to myself in amusement. I laid in my bed on the floor but felt restless, I could still hear the others talking and laughing from the dining room. I felt a certain jealousy, even the priestess travelling with them did not seem as tethered as me. She seemed like a normal girl, nothing in her manner suggested the rigidity and self sacrifice that I was taught in order to become a priestess. Could I possibly be like her and still maintain my spiritual energy? 

I sat back up unable to sit with my thoughts any longer, I grabbed my bow and arrows and opened the sliding door that lead to the outside, directly in front of the woods. I could still sense the intense aura but it was a long ways off still. I walked into the woods, careful not to go too far, there was a small lake that I liked to cleanse myself in when I had impure thoughts. I carefully looked around and did not feel or see the presence of a demon near by. I took off my robes, leaving on only my white underclothes and began to purify and splash the cold water over myself. It sparkled faintly with my spiritual energy imbued into it, I stared at the moons reflection in the lake, admiring how the water made it glow. It was quite beautiful. 

My breath left my body and I found myself suddenly falling forward towards the water and the reflection of the moon. I gasped as the cold water hit my face so suddenly and quickly turned and sat up to see what had attacked me. I could not see anything but the outlines of trees and I could not sense a demonic aura either. When I looked down at the water I saw that it was now red and soaked with my blood, it was only then that I felt the intense burning in my right shoulder. It was poison. I could feel it rapidly spreading throughout my body and deteriorating my strength and spiritual energy. I crawled out of the lake and onto the grass, gasping and clutching at my shoulder. I tried to pray and purify the toxins but my head was spinning. When I looked up again, I saw a figure in a baboon pelt. It stood tall, with the shape of a human underneath. 

"Who are you?" I managed to ask. 

I could hardly focus on the response as the corners of my vision were already turning black. 

"Naraku."  

It was the last thing I heard before the miasma caused me to lose consciousness.